Spidernauts

Which choice provides the main ideas of the text?

• In 2012, an experiment was carried out in a special lab based on a student’s idea from a contest. The experiment tested the effects of microgravity on different types of spiders.

• In order to learn more about microgravity, scientists sent two jumping spiders into space to study any changes in their hunting behavior. The spiders were successful hunters in space, and scientists hope this information can help them learn more about humans in space as well.

• Because scientists want to learn how insects behave in space, they sent two jumping spiders into space as part of a scientific experiment. A scientist watched the spiders to see if they changed the types of food they ate, and it was discovered that they still eat fruit flies in space.

• As part of an experiment, two spiders were launched in a rocket to a special lab in space. The spiders were kept in special containers and watched closely to keep track of their behavior.

Read the sentence from paragraph 1.

What does the author suggest by the sentence?

• It is exciting that spiders went to space.

• It is disappointing that spiders went to space.

• It is surprising that spiders went to space.

• It is troubling that spiders went to space.

Why did Amr Mohamed suggest that NASA study jumping spiders?

• Amr Mohamed wondered if the jumping spiders would be able to see as well while hunting in space.

• Amr Mohamed liked watching jumping spiders and thought they would be interesting to watch in space as well.

• Amr Mohamed liked watching jumping spiders and thought they would be interesting to watch in space as well.

• Amr Mohamed thought that the change in gravity in space would have a negative effect on the jumping spiders.

What does the word temporary mean as it is used in paragraph 3?

• brief

• endless

• strange

• weak

Which phrase from paragraph 3 best supports the answer to Part A?

• “…jumped on a trampoline…”

• “…hanging in the air before dropping down…”

• “…bounce again…”

• “…what it feels like to be weightless.”

Read the sentence from paragraph 5. What does the author mean by the simile “they pounce like a cat on a mouse” in the sentence?

• Jumping spiders use their legs to grab their prey from above.

• Jumping spiders catch their prey by leaping onto them.

• Jumping spiders hop around to distract their prey before attacking them.

• Jumping spiders play games with their prey before attacking them.

What point does the author make about microgravity?

• It takes a little while for most astronauts to get used to microgravity

• People and animals deal with the effects of microgravity in similar ways

• Spiders could be used to teach people how to eat more easily in microgravity.

• It is difficult for astronauts to understand the feeling of microgravity before going into space.

Which quotation from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• “Objects, people, and spiders in a space station or space shuttle don’t experience gravity the same way we do on Earth; they experience something called microgravity.” (paragraph 2)

• “If you have ever jumped on a trampoline, you may have already experienced microgravity, also known as weightlessness.” (paragraph 3)

• “When humans on the space station reach for something, they normally miss it the first few times until their brains get used to the effects of microgravity.” (paragraph 5)

• “The spiders managed to weave and jump in microgravity. So maybe humans can learn to adapt to this unusual environment too.” (paragraph 9)

What does multi-chambered mean as it is used in paragraph 6?

• allowing light to pass through

• having more than one room

• including fancy decorations

• offering protection to keep dry

Based on the text, which two choices tell how jumping spiders were similar to golden orb spiders?

• Both types of spiders had no trouble catching their prey in space.

• Both types of spiders were able to spin round webs to catch their prey in space.

• Both types of spiders waited before attacking their prey in space.

• Both types of spiders were given tiny fruit flies to eat in space.

• Both types of spiders used their great eyesight to see tiny fruit flies in space.